Homelessness up more than 200 per cent in major N.B. cities: report

CTV News

2 days ago

A new report from the Human Development Council shows a 210 per cent increase in homelessness across New Brunswick's three major cities since 2021.
There are 1,529 people experiencing homelessness across Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John, said a news release. This is up from 493 in March 2021.
The report showed:
rent rose 34.7 per cent and residential property prices rose 84 per cent between 2019 and 2024
food bank visits rose 45 per cent between 2019 and 2024
in 2024, 45 per cent of employees earned less than the living wage of $24.62 an hour
in 2023, New Brunswick has a 16.7 per cent low-income rate, the highest in Canada
unmet healthcare needs almost doubled since 2019
housing shortages persist
'Homelessness has been persistent in New Brunswick for a long time due to systemic issues such as the financialization of the housing market, inadequate tenant protection and failures within social support systems,' said data analyst and research coordinator Liam Fisher. 'However, the last five years have presented unprecedented challenges in housing affordability and health, pushing vulnerable individuals and families over the edge.'
Purpose of report
Fisher says the idea behind the report was to help find what has led to the significant increase in homelessness in recent years.
Limited affordable hosing options and the cost of basic goods rising are also to blame for the high numbers.
'When all of these things start affecting New Brunswickers all at the same time, the result is a perfect storm of social challenges,' Fisher says.
Kat and Liam
Kat LeBlanc, left, and Liam Fisher from the Human Development Council hold a report on homelessness in New Brunswick. (Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic)
Kat LeBlanc, lead administer for the Human Development Council (HDC), says the HDC and other organizations and non-profits in the three major cities are working to help the homeless population get off the streets.
She notes there is no 'one size fits all' approach when it comes to homelessness, which admittedly is part of the battle when addressing the issue.
'It is very necessary to celebrate the small wins, like attending medical appointments with a client because they're very nervous to go by themselves' LeBlanc says. 'All of those little kind of things that add up so trying to instead of focusing on the glaring 210 per cent [increase].'
In order to improve the homelessness situation, LeBlanc says expanded services are necessary as the capacity isn't there to help the people living on the streets. For that to happen, there would likely need to be an increase in spending by the province.
'Little disheartening'
Ivan McCullough is a co-founder of Street Team SJ, a volunteer group that helps provide essentials for homeless residents in Saint John.
He admits the report findings are a 'little disheartening' and proves there are serious systemic breakdowns in the system.
'A lot of people just sometimes just want to give up,' he says. 'They have no place to turn, the system is overwhelmed, the social safety net that we're supposed to have is not compensating simply because it can't.'
McCullough asks the public to be respectful of people experiencing homelessness, noting that some people living on the streets had a home just a month ago.
'If your primary concern is how do I stay alive today, how do I eat today, you are not really concerned with what does around my area look like,' McCullough says. 'Gradually that kind of living eats away at the mental health, that mental health leads to trying to escape from that psychological pain and the cycle starts over again.'
McCullough admits he doesn't have the answer to how to fix the issues, but says the only way progress can be made is by treating people with respect and dignity.
Next week Saint John will open its first designated 'green zone' for 12 Neighbors' first Neighbourly Homes community in the city.
Each site will have 27 individual sleeping units, as well as shared bathrooms, showers, laundry and kitchen spaces. The living units contain a small desk, a single bed, an electronic tablet, and a locking door to allow residents to feel safe. The sites will also have 24/7 on-site staffing and wrap-around support services.
'We're happy for those folks that are getting out there,' says McCullough. 'Getting that little bit of stability that they need. It might take them three months, some people it might take them eight months, but as long as they can maintain that foothold, that little bit of stability and security, then everything else can start falling into place.'
The tenants will move into their new homes on Aug. 1.
Saint John encampment
An encampment in Saint John, N.B., is pictured. (Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic)
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.